Commodore Crush Blog

The 1961 Ferrari GT California of Hockey Teams

Commodore Crush — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:34:45 +0000

Care/Don’t Care by Indianapolis Artist Jamie Pawlus

Commodore Crush — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:51:12 +0000

Visited Indianapolis this weekend during the Cultural Trail Grand Opening and spotted this great ~~2010~~ 2011 installation from artist Jamie Pawlus called Care/Don’t Care.

Born Without a Face – Michigan Hardcore Given the Deluxe Treatment

Rob St. Mary — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:10:10 +0000

Ever see a box set so amazing, and for a band you might have never heard of, that you need to know how it happened?

That’s the case with Born Without A Face – the complete sound recordings box set: 1984-1986.

To call this set obsessive and complete is kind of an understatement because big labels don’t treat major bands this well.

The set features an artfully handmade box with a magnetic clasp. The band’s name is silk screened across the front. Inside there are three posters, a sticker, 1-12” 33 1/3rpm record featuring the “Freakshow” album, 1-12” 45rpm featuring “The Unbecoming” & “Worship” eps and a CD collecting all the tracks from the vinyl. The inside of a box includes another art piece, some notes and is part of a hand numbered edition of 300.

From a re-issue standard, the vinyl is beyond 180 gram (so called “audiophile editions”). These records are 210 gram. They are thick like dinner plates or, probably more accurately, 78rpms which the label design seems to invoke.

The sound of Born Without A Face is hardcore. But at times it seems to share dynamics with the thrash metal (that hardcore infused sound made popular by groups such as Slayer, Metallica and others that came of age in the early 1980s California metal scene) of that era but without solos and other sonic clichés of that heavy rock genre.

You can hear some of the tracks through the Sargent Cherry soundcloud app in this page.

The production sound is clean and well done. That’s a testament to the original recording sessions themselves. Many hardcore, punk and metal records of that era often fall victim of extremely shrill production with little to no bass (see Slayer’s first efforts for example). The only negative, to my ear, sonically, is that at times the vocals seem to be a bit back in the mix for my taste. As the band moves forward towards the “Freakshow” sessions the vocals become clearer to the ear on first listen.

What was Born Without A Face? The Grand Rapids area hardcore band was together from the early 1980s through the mid-1980s. It was started by two brothers: Mark and Eric Dancey. The line up: Robert Eastway (vocals), Dan Ross (guitar), Eric Dancey (bass), Mark Dancey (guitar) and a line up for different drummers – Al Simian, Tim Pendergast & Dwayne Buffam.

If the name Mark Dancey sounds familiar, it’s because he’s been a graphic artist, cartoonist and painter for over 25 years. His work has been featured on albums, magazines and gallery walls. As Born Without A Face was ending, Dancey started “Motorbooty” Magazine.

From 1987 to 1999, “Motorbooty” preached “Strength Thru Satire” – skewering indie rock royalty and given a place for underground comics to shine. During most of the “Motorbooty” years, the ashes of Born Without A Face could be found – chiefly, Dancey – in the Detroit area post-hardcore band Big Chief. That band featured members of midwest hardcore legends the Nercos, the Laughing Hyenas and Dancey’s Born Without A Face.

But after Big Chief ended in 1995, Dancey moved on from rock and roll and since 2000 has established himself as a well-respected fine artist based in Detroit.

Each box set is handmade, the posters are silkscreened by Dancey and even the box itself is a work of art. Dancey told me that it takes him about an 1 1/2 hours each in order to create the special box for this set. In my conversations with Dancey, he says, it’s really like what he did back in the hardcore days – black & white graphics and hand-made DIY attitude. But, instead of a few dollars for their original cassette only releases, this costs a bit more.

I got in touch with the man behind this new re-release: Sargent Cherry label owner Brian Wybenga. He was kind enough to answer a few questions about the band, the box and what’s next for his Detroit label.

1.) Mark (Dancey) told me that the band had a special meaning to you… can you explain?

The punk music scene in Grand Rapids (Michigan) was quite small. Most of us knew each other and probably half or more us made music at one time or another. Born Without A Face played at the very first underground punk show I went to. After that I saw them many more times and I also got to know the guys personally. I felt the music they made belonged to me somehow and it also brings back memories from a great time in my life.

2.) What was it about BORN WITHOUT A FACE (this Grand Rapids hardcore outfit) that resonated with you enough to want to put out this box set?

It was primarily for selfish reasons. My cassette was worn out and mangled by the time I move out of my parents’ house. I wanted a copy of it on vinyl for myself. I also wanted to see this music preserved with a proper release. And, I love great quality vinyl. These were all great excuses to start up a record label and start putting out music that I care about.

3.) The box set itself is impressive. Major label bands don’t receive this good of treatment of their collected works. What was the idea of putting all that together? How did it evolve?

From the beginning we all wanted something of substantial quality and design that also matched the music. The box itself is the brainchild of Mark Dancey and Robert Eastway. It started out being simple double gatefold lp with a poster and thick vinyl…. Over the course of a few years somehow it evolved to this insane magnetized box that would be made in small handmade batches and weighed in at nearly 7lbs. We knew we had to go with this package design once we saw the first 3D concept of it.

4.) What’s the biggest thing you have learned about remastering, cleaning up music from an era that was more about power and immediacy than sonic cleanliness?

That some old tapes can essentially dry up and fall apart… Apparently over time certain types of tape can lose their elasticity and can just crumble if you try to play them because they can no longer flex while moving through a tape machine. The first master tape that was brought in for transferring literally just fell apart when they tried to play it. Luckily, there was a backup master tape otherwise I’m not sure if this project ever would have happened. Or, at least certainly not with the quality we have now.

5.) BORN WITHOUT A FACE is an interesting listen. They are hardcore but not what one would think. For me, at times, they almost sound like a bridge between hardcore punk and thrash metal (without the solos) – how do you explain the sound?

They are much darker than most punk and the metallic edge they had reinforced their hardcore sound. Honestly, I think they are one of the most ferocious sounding bands that ever made hardcore music. All instruments just melted together. The sound itself is like a sledgehammer coming through the speakers.

6.) How has Mark Dancey been to work with in the process of creating the box set?

It has been quite a lot of fun going through the creation of the set with him. It was quite easy, as well. The way it should be on such projects. I hope we get to work together again.

7.) How can people learn more? How can they get their hands on a copy of this?

It can be purchased on the website here: www.sargentcherry.com. There’s some band and release info on the site as well.

8.) What’s next for your label? Are you working on any new projects?

Next up will be a 3-lp set by ADC, a pioneer Michigan noise band that existed from ’82 – ’87. After that, a 2-lp set by Kalamazoo hardcore legends, Violent Apathy. I’m also working on lining up a few other projects beyond that, but nothing concrete at this time. I hope to do many more releases as long as life cooperates.

9.) What’s the biggest thing you learned in the process?

That this music affected and influenced a lot of people the same way it affected me. It’s been very rewarding to hear from people about it because of the connection there. I suppose that’s part of the satisfaction of reaching this point.

10.) Anything you want to add that maybe I forgot to ask you about this box set, putting it together, the band or the label?

This project made me want to get my shit together, honestly. There’s a lot of work to be done.

For more information on the Born Without A Face, the box set and Sargent Cherry Records: http://sargentcherry.com/index.html

Seems a Little Overkill, But Okay

Commodore Crush — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:55:43 +0000

I think I remember the Red Hot Chili Peppers wearing Sack Socks at one of their shows.

Cold Day on Lynn Street

Commodore Crush — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:33:03 +0000

Downtown Columbus.

Winter in Columbus, Ohio

Commodore Crush — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 04:44:16 +0000

Merry Christmas From Russell aka Mr. Shit

Commodore Crush — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 05:24:00 +0000

Mr. Shit at age 63 of the Shit Howdy Boys.

A Tribute to Jason Lockwood… at Small’s Hamtramck

Commodore Crush — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 02:06:51 +0000

Kind of a late post but, everyone in Detroit should be at Small’s in Hamtramck in tribute to Jason Lockwood.

Jason was a great guy that was always ready to have a whiskey shot with, hang out at shows and even helped put out an Amino Acids vinyl release for us on Hellcity Records. I’m not going to pretend I knew him as well as others have, but I can tell you it was cool when we did hang out. I wish I could be at the show, but even worse is, it sucks that we lost him in the first place.

Thursday, December 27th – A tribute to Jason Lockwood…

A night of live music to celebrate what Jason meant to all of us, with The Jollys, The Amino Acids, Mean Mother, Bailout and Dick Hickey on the stage plus DJ’s Trent Whiskey & Abner Wigglestaff throughout
$8 Donation @ 8p.m.

Alex Dorsey Purchases Walden Lofts for $4.35 Million at Auction

Commodore Crush — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:55:22 +0000

The Walden Lofts in Italian Village were sold today at a public auction to Alex Dorsey for $4,350,000. Also up at auction was the vacant lot just south of the Walden Lofts that sold for $230,000.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUQqmlgtgaA

All I have to say is this building is cursed and wish our new landlord good luck. I’m sure his voicemail will be full soon due to all the leaking ceilings and windows.

Year End Treat from Detroit’s Eddie Logix

Rob St. Mary — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:08:35 +0000

Always with a cap on, I’ve had the chance to hang out with this “bespeckled, smart looking guy”, as Doc Waffles called him, over the past year & have had the honor to soak up much of his saucy sounds.

Most days Eddie Logix can be found in the Eastern Market penthouse twisting the knobs, creating beats & producing albums for a laundry list of some of Detroit’s finest gents creating hip-hop today. But unlike a lot of producers, who seem more comfortable with their faces buried in a laptop, Logix has a strong stage presence as well as part of Progress Report with D. Allie, MidCoast Most and as hype man to Doc Waffles.

So, just in time for your Janus view on the 2012-2013 cusp, Logix offers you a free taste of his “Gregorian Mixtape” – a compilation of his work over the past year mixed by DJ Dante LaSalle.

Who’s on the set? A lot of voices you might know – Doc Waffles, Danny Brown, Passalacqua, DUENDE!, COLD MEN YOUNG, Josef Coney Island, Progress Report and more.

The artwork is by Dial 81 who tapped Logix to help him with some of the mixing for the “Detropia” documentary soundtrack earlier this year.

At the low, low price of $0.00, give it a listen. Then pick up the albums by all the cats involved because it only makes logical sense that a man named Eddie Logix would be presenting the leading edge of the Detroit sound!

Strings Trio Cinemagraph

Commodore Crush — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 06:16:23 +0000

Taken at 400 W. Rich Farmer’s Market, Columbus, Ohio

Paging Doctor Tim Heidecker, Doctor Heidecker

Commodore Crush — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 23:36:48 +0000

Tim Heidecker likes to do a lil’ Doctoring in the offseason of Awesome Show.

Urbanski Painting “Satellites & Cockfights” Stolen in San Diego

Commodore Crush — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 15:04:04 +0000

I received an email last night that a painting I sold back in 2006 was stolen from the buyer. This is a real bummer. It was one of my favorite paintings too and hung very briefly at Zensei Sushi in North Park, San Diego. It’s approximately 2′x4′.

If anyone has any info, please contact me at: commodore(at)commodorecrush.com

NEW! Passalacqua – Sirens Video by Colin Duerr NSFW

Commodore Crush — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:06:10 +0000

Holy shit. We’ve written about Detroit’s Colin Duerr & the Kresge Arts Grant winners, Passalacqua before. But their latest collaboration begs me to wonder why they’re not blowing up yet. The sets, costumes (what there is of them) and makeup are all fantastic along with some old school film effects that I wish more filmmakers would use today.

I believe Colin is one of those music video directors where the music becomes the soundtrack for his short. Instead of just throwing in some flashy, expensive car & money props that ends up making the musician or artist look repulsive or just plain foolish, his videos often follow a storyline that most music video directors think is an afterthought.

Check Colin’s Site HERE.

Happy Devil’s Night Detroit

Commodore Crush — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:45:49 +0000